Disconnecting switch



J 1930. H. J. cRAB Bs 1,745,030

DISCONNECTING SWITCH Filed Nov. 5, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet l Ill-I XR EF IIJTH I 1 1 1 I i WITNESSES: INVENTOR ATTOIRNEY Jam. 28, 1930.

H. J. GRABB$ DISCONNECTING SWITCH I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 5, 1925INVENTOR I Herbert JCr-afiba.

WITNESSES:

a ay/14M.

TTOR'NEY M i-W H. J. CRABBS DI SCONNECTING SWITCH Jan, 2.8, 1930.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed NOV. 5, 1925 WITNESSES:

Patented Jan. 28, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HERBERT J. CRAIBBS,OF WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTING- HOUSE ELEGTRIC ANDMANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENN- SYLVANIA DISOONNECTINGSWITCH Application filed November My invention relates to electricalapparatus and particularly to disconnecting switches.

One object of my invention is to provide a disconnecting switch thatshall be adaptable both for horizontal and vertical mounting.

Another object of my invention is to provide a disconnecting switch thatshall be free from moving joints that are at the same timecurrent-conducting joints.

A further object of my invention is to provide a disconnecting switch inwhich the moving contact member shall be connected to a terminal memberby a flexible conductor having resilient guiding means for controllingthe position of the flexible conductor during movement of the movablecontact member.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide an-improved housing forthe end of the switch blade.

In mounting disconnecting switches, it is customary to support thecurrent-carrying elements of the switch on petticoat insulators. Suchinsulators, when supported in an inverted position, are capable ofcollecting moisture on the undersides thereof, and such bodies ofmoisture cause dangers of flash-over between the current-conductingmembers and ground and between currentconducting members themselves.Such moisture also soaks into and along the insulator pins with theresult that the insulators are frequently broken by the expansive andcontractive forces incidental to freezing and thawing. Accordingly, ithas been found necessary to so design disconnecting switches that anypetticoat insulator on the movable contact member shall always be insuch a position that as to be self-draining.

Heretofore, it has been customary to limit the application of anyparticular disconnecting switch to either a horizontal or a verticalmounting. With my improved disconnectin switch, I am able to change themoutning o the switch from the vertical to the horizontal positionwithout inverting any of the petti coat insulators by simply changingthe supporting arm that carries the petticoat insulator supporting themovable contact member. Disconnectin switches are frequently mountedout-o -doors and must be operated 5, 1925. Serial No. 67,021.

under allsorts of weather conditions such as when the entire apparatusis covered with ice or sleet. It has, therefore, been found advantageousto house the end of the switch blade in such manner that the housingdoes not carry the major portion of the current.

In providing for opening and closing such housing, I take advantage ofthe fact that ice is weakest in tension and have so designed the housingthat there is no opportunity for ice to be under compression or directshearing stresses during the movements of the housing parts. I amenabled to secure this result by providing a longitudinally splithousing that is flexibly mounted and the constituent parts of which areeach provided with a cam surface that cooperates with the switch bladesin a wedging action during opening and closing movements thereof.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of a disconnecting switch embodying myvinvention, mounted in the vertical position,

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the switch mounted in a horizontalposition,

Fig. 3 is an elcvational view of the housing for the contact members ofthe switch,

Fig. 4 is a view, partially in section and partially in elevation, ofthe housing taken along the section line IV-IV of Fig. 3, and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the housing members.

My invention comprises, in general, a frame 1 that supports a pair ofspaced insulators 2 and 3, which, in turn, support a stationary contactmember 4 and a terminal member 5, respectively, between which is mounteda shaft 6 that-supports and actuates an insulator 7 that serves as amounting for a mov able contact member 8. The stationary contact member4 terminates in a weather-proof housing 9,0f particular construction.

The'frame 1 may consist of any arrangement of angle or channel irons ora slate base, as desired. In the preferred construction, however, thedisconnecting switch is on the under surfaces thereof. Accordingly, itis essential that the insulators 2, 3 and 7 shall always be so mountedas to be selfdrainin in order to avoid danger of flashovers from theelectrical-current-carrying points to ground and between each other andeterioration incidental to freezing and thawin Themsulator 2 supportsthe stationary contact. member 4 that terminates in the housing 9 and anarcing horn 11. The arcing horn 11 is preferably resiliently mounted, asat 12, in order to afford greater flexibility and thereby to permit thecontact members 4 and 8 being further removed from each other at theperiods of engagement and disengagement of the arcing horns.

The insulator 3 supports the terminal 5 that may be of any preferredtype, of which there are a large number on the market, and, in additionthereto, it supports a relativel long and stiff spring 13 that isprovided wit openings 14.

The material of the spring 13 is such that it may have movement of arelatively large range and, at the same time, support the weight of aflexible conductor 15 threaded through the openings 14 for connectingthemoving contact member 8 to the terminal member 5. The spring 13 preventsthe loops of conductor 15 from falling across ad'acent phases of theswitch or switches uring movement of the movable contact member 8 and,at the same time, eliminates the necessity for the elaborate knucklejoints and struts, heretofore employed in such "disconnecting switches.j 9

'The shaft 6 is operated byflany' suitable mechanism not shown). A;collar 16 is clamped to t e shaft 6, one part of which carries lugs 17that cooperate with suitable springs 18 in the frame 1 for preventinginjurious jars during the movement of the switch.

In Fig. 1, the upper part of the collar 16 is shown as comprising anelongated arm 19 that terminates in a seat 21 for the insulator 7. Theinsulator 7 carries a relativel movable contact member 8 that is in theorm of a switch blade for engagement with the stationary contact member4. The switch shown in Fig. 1, is particularly adapted for verticalmounting as the length and inclination of the arm 19 is such that theinsulator 7 is self-draining when the switch is in a closed orsolid-line position and when it is in the open or dotted-line position.

In the form of my invention shown in Fig. 2, the upper part 22 of thecollar member 16 directl serves as the seat 23 for the insulator 7. T isform of my invention is particularly adapted for the horizontal mountingof theswltch, since the insulator 7 is in a self-draining position bothin its closed or full-line position or in its open or dotted- .notches 3line position. The insulator 7 carries also an arcing horn 24 forcooperation with the arcing horn 11. A spring 25 may be inserted at thebase of the arcing horn 24 if desired.

Referring particularly to Figures 3 to 5, the housing 9 for the contactmembers comprises two complementary castings or sheetmetal stampings 30that may be termed of trough or clam shape. The members 30 engage eachother along substantially their entire peripheries, thereby enclosingcontact fingers 31 that engage the movable contact member 8 and completethe principal electrical circuit. The purpose of the housin section 30is primarily that of protection and not that of current carrying. Thehousing sections 30 are each supported by a flexible strip of metal 32,such as bronze that is connected by suitable bolts 33 to a base portion34 of the switch member 4. The contact fingers 31 are independentlysupported by the ase portion 34 y means of bolts 35. The base 34 fits inbetween the metal strips 32 and substantially closes the back part ofthe housing 9.

The met-a1 strips 32 further serve to bias the housing elements 30 intofirm engagement -with each other. The housing members 30 are provided,at their outer ends,.with outturned cam edges 36 that cooperate with themovable contact blade 8 for the purpose of prying or wedging the parts30 apart during the opening and closing movement of the housing.

The lower edges of the housing 30 are provided with notches 37 for thereception of the switch blade 8 when the switch is in a closed position.The housing '9, therefore completely encloses and protects the end 0 theswitch of the movable contact blade 8.

- Since ice and sleet are weakest when under tension, I am enabled toopen the housin 9 with a minimum effort for the reason t at the onlyforce that such ice can exert is in tension across the line of cleavagedefined b the edges of the sections 30. Accordingly,

have provided cam surfaces 38 on the upper blow, which blow is centeredat the edges of the sections 30 that are then split apart. After theblade 8 has entered the notches 37, the housin 9 closes under theinfluence of the spring lades 32. When it is desired to 0 en the switch,the blade is moved outwar ly against the inner surfaces 38 of the andthe housing elements 30 are split apart.

again isposition of the insulators 2, 3 and The compression and bendingforces during 7 is such that they are subjected to 'combingd' ,t ecircuit-closin movement and combine tension and ben ing forces duringthe circuitopenin movement, I In t e o eration from the open to theclosing position, the operator causes shaft 6 'to rotate in a clockwisedirection, where upon, the arcing horn 24 is brought into ongagementwith the arcing horn 11, the flexible conductor is extended and thespring 13 is slightly flexed during the turning of the movable contactmember 8 into enga ement with the housing 9. When the move le contactblade 8 engages thestationarv contact member 4, the housing sectionsare) split apart andthe blade 8 enters the notches 3 and between thecontact fin rs 31, whereupon the circuit is complete If it is desired toopen the switch, the shaft 6 is rotated in a counter-clockwisedirection, when the foregoing steps take place in reverse order.

It will thus be seen that I have devised a disconnecting switch that maybe easily fitted for either horizontal or vertical mountmg. I have alsoeliminated the knuckle jomts, braces or the 1ike,by utilizing aflexibleconnector between the terminal and the movable contact member which isguided by a springof novel construction.

I have further devised a housin for the end of the switch blade, of suchorm that the switch blade is completely housed andin which anyresistance offered by ice or the like to movement of the housing, mustbe along the lines of tension in the ice. Since ice is weakest intension and since the blade members of such disconnecting switches movewith considerable force I am able to break such an ice coating withoutundue expenditure'of energy.

- While I have'shown but a single embodiment of my invention, further 0anges and modifications ma be made'therein without departing from t espirit and scope thereof, and I desire therefore, that only suchlimitaplaced thereupon as are imfined b the engagin edges whereby anyice y to Eeep the shield closed isor sleet tending broken undertensmn.

2. A housing. for a switch structure split longitudinally and havinginternal and external cam surfaces on the subdivisions there- .of forcooperation with a switch blade for openin the housing by the lateraldisplacement'o a portion thereof.

3. vThe combination with a Switchblade, of a longitudinally-split iceshield for the end thereof, the ice shield having an internal and anexternal cam surface; for co-operation with the switch blade for openingthe ice shield by the lateral displacement of a portion thereof. I 1 4,11 combination with a disconnectin switch including a base supporting atermin anda stationary contact in spaced relation, a shaft disposedintermediate said terminal and said contact, and an insulator forsupporting a movable contact in electrical connection with saidterminal, detachable clamp-.

the switch is mounted with its base horizontal,

and a second clampin means interchan eable with the first sai clampinmeans or supporting said insulator on sai shaft in a l difierentrelation to said base when the switch is mounted with its base invertical position. 5. In combination with a disconnecting switch,elements includinga base, a movable contact, a rocking shaft foractuating the contact, and a Petticoat insulator for mountin the saidcontact in fixed relation with sai shaft, a pair of interchangeablesupporting members, each ofwhich is adapted to cooperate with the shaft.to support the said insulator, whereby the tion of the proper member forits support correspon to the horizontal or vertical switch comprising astationary contact member, a movable contact member, an insulator forsup orting said movable contact member, an a shaft adapted for rotatablysup-- porting said movable contact member, interchangeable clamps formounting said movable contact member on said shaft in either of twopredetermined relations.

'1' In combination with a disconnecting switch comprising a stationarycontact member, a movable contact member, an insulator for supportingsaid movable contact memher, an a shaft adapted for rotatably portmgsaid ator shaft in either of two lations.

I n testimony whereof, I have hereunto subpredetermined remanners.omens.

an I interchangeabl; clampsfor mountingsaid insulator on said 'rny'namethis2 3rd day-of October,

coat insulator may be retained in a position in which said I etticoatsare self-draining through the selec

